Drinking fountain bubbler guard
An improved drinking fountain bubbler guard in which the guard of the invention herein is installed at an opposite angle to the front of the bubbler pedestal. The present invention is an L-shaped guard with a round bonding facet that is conjoined to the anterior extremity of the spigot cock; a gasket is postured against the guard, the spout is inserted through the gasket and then fastened into the output hole of the spigot cock such that the guard is tightly mounted onto the spigot cock. As such, the invention herein safely protects the face of served users and effectively prevents accidents, while also reducing paper cup usage and thereby complying with environmental protection objectives.
1) Field of the Invention
The invention herein relates to water dispensing fixtures, specifically an improved drinking fountain bubbler guard, wherein the said guard is of pliant plastic construction as opposed to the one-piece metal fabricated approach of conventional structures.
2) Description of the Prior Art
Drinking fountains are in widespread use at schools, offices, and other public venues. They are typically of one-piece stainless steel or brass construction. Since drinking fountain-related accidents continue to occur, the many cases of injury resulting suggests that an alternative to such construction is needed.
In view of this situation, removing the means of physical impact and squeezing presented by such fixtures will effectively reduce facial injuries as well as the frequency of accidents.
The applicant of the invention herein addressed the problem with conventional drinking fountain bubbler guards based on many years of engagement in the drinking fountain industry by examining the shortcomings of the conventional products in order to prevent accidents that result in facial injury, which culminated in the successful development of the improved drinking fountain bubbler guard of the invention and the submitting of a new patent application as a solution for the said existent difficulties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe objective of the invention herein is to provide a drinking fountain bubbler guard that is fabricated of a pliant plastic material into an L-shaped component that has a round bonding facet and conjoined to the anterior extremity of the spigot cock for the purpose of accident prevention, paper cup usage reduction, and environmental protection compliance.
In addition to said structural arrangement and purposes, the spigot cock and the guard are separable, independent components that minimize packaging dimensions, thereby facilitating portability and lowering export shipping costs, but still retaining the function of a conventional bubbler guard.
Referring to
To further assist the review of the invention herein by the examination committee, the practical advantages of present invention are as follows:
- (1) The drinking fountain bubbler guard of the invention herein safely shields the face of served users and reduces paper cup usage, thereby complying with environmental protection concepts.
- (2) The invention herein has packaging dimensions that facilitate portability and lower export shipping costs.
In summation of the foregoing section, since the improved drinking fountain bubbler guard of the invention herein possesses manufacturing utility and is progressive, the invention herein meets new patent application requirements.
Claims
1. An improved drinking fountain bubbler that is installed at an opposite angle to the front of a bubbler pedestal, comprising:
- a spigot cock having disposed in its anterior extremity a bonding facet, a groove formed along the bonding facet, an output hole, and a push button actuator situated at the rear;
- a bubbler guard; and,
- a spout fastened through an opening in the bubbler guard to the output hole;
- wherein the bubbler guard has a bottom section that is congruent with the bonding facet of the spigot cock and, furthermore, is effectively conjoined into position on the spigot cock by inserting pins projecting from the bubbler guard into the groove.
2. The improved drinking fountain bubbler of claim 1, wherein the bubbler guard is fabricated of a pliant plastic material into an L-shaped component having the bottom section that is congruent in shape with the bonding facet.
3. The improved drinking fountain bubbler of claim 1, wherein the guard has a gasket placed on it and a hole is formed in the gasket; and
- the spout is inserted through the gasket and fastened into the output hole of the spigot cock, thereby enabling the secure mounting of the bubbler guard onto the spigot cock.
Type: Grant
Filed: May 20, 2003
Date of Patent: Mar 15, 2005
Patent Publication Number: 20040232255
Inventor: Cheng-Wsiung Wu (Changhua Country)
Primary Examiner: William C Doerrler
Attorney: Rabin & Berdo, P.C.
Application Number: 10/441,069